can i apply for ssi for my 3 year old child - Disabilities Message Board

coco335 · 08-04-2004, 08:31 PM

My 3 year old son has a speech delay he can say a few words but mostly babbles and he just say one word at a time but not in a sentence.I am now trying to get him in a child special health care service so he can be evaluated for his speech delay , what i want to know can I apply for ssi benefits for him
or not if speech delay is considered a disability.

Purplebill · 08-04-2004, 08:54 PM

Delayed speech in and of itself is a symptom of a cognitive disorder of some kind. Certainly it is a disability, but whether or not your child qualifies for benefits will depend on the severity of the disorder and how it impacts the ability to function. You can apply for benefits for your child online at www.ssa.gov or you can call 1-800-772-1213 to start the process, the sooner the better. As you may know, SSI is a kind of welfare program so you (and your immediate family) have to be poor in order to qualify financially.

If you believe that your child's disability is signifant enough to apply for benefits, then you should seriously consider obtaining the services of a competent attorney who specializes in SSA disability cases. There are no attorney fees due unless you win your case and even then, they are limited by law, in most cases to 25% of the back benefits, or $5,300.00 whichever is less.